VIERA, Fla. — Rick Eckstein and Bryce Harper were having a conversation around the batting cage, talking about how to approach certain pitches in certain parts of the strike zone, when Harper brought up a prominent hurler from another NL East club he's sure to face at some point this season and beyond.

Eckstein was stunned Harper already had an intimate understanding of a pitcher he's never faced before.

"He's like: 'This is what he's going to do. And when he does it, this is where it's gonna go,'" the Nationals hitting coach said.

Eckstein could only laugh and respond to his young protege: "I think you're right."

How unusual is it for a 19-year-old with zero major-league experience to have that kind of advanced approach to his craft? Plenty. But as he spends more and more time in big-league camp and shares more andRead more »

Wow, a first…I'm first!! Usually I get to these things two days later after everyone has moved on. Other than that, not much to say about this, just can't wait to see him in action in person….no earlier than April 26th.

During yesterday's batting practice session, he crushed several balls to the opposite field, including one laser of a home run that struck a light standard beyond the left-center field fence.Should we start calling him The Natural?

Heard a story that maybe has already been mentioned here. Harper was being interviewed, can't remember who and he was asked if he knew about Al Kaline. He looked up at the guy and said "of course, he won his first batting title at 20 right"? You have to love a guy who is not only a student of the game but knows his history as well. Again, this is just an exciting time and I am now in the camp of bringing him up with the original 25 if he is indeed earned a starting role. If he has, we can worry about an extention in four years. If he is our 4th outfielder then we can let him learn at AAA for those 21 days.

There were a lot of MLB scouts who thought that Prince Oppo Boppo was ready to play in the Bigs last year, so I guess he's ready this year—Davey The Hitter thinks so!!!!Not just with Harper, but reading Mark's posts about other Nats' hitters, it's obvious that the team is getting a lot of emotional support from Davey's insights into hitting. That kind of stuff goes a long way towards supporting the player, and Eck's efforts.Guess we don't have to worry about The Beast being pinch hit for against righties!!!!Goooooooooooooo Nats!!!!!!

"He's like: 'This is what he's going to do. And when he does it, this is where it's gonna go,'" the Nationals hitting coach said.We spent a lot of time last season talking about failed approaches in the batters box. Too many disccussion about Nats batters walking into the batters box in a critical situation and swinging at the 1st pitch and rolling over a ground ball.A planned out approach is needed. Now I respect Bryce doing his homework and research but I won't be jumping up and down with excitement until I see him in action.This is where Ryan Zimmerman excels with his approach with the game on the line.

First, we recently reconnected with an old friend who we hadn't seen in a couple of decades. She lives in Las Vegas and mentioned that her now 20-year-old son had played baseball against (and sometimes with) Bryce Harper for years in various upper-level kids leagues. She had nothing but praise for him as a person, spoke highly of his character/politeness, etc. And, as you would expect, said she had seen him do some amazing things on a baseball field.Second, in the category of acknowledging error, I admit that I was one of those who wrote here early last winter that the Nats should seek to acquire Grady Sizemore (although I did include some caveats about contracts and physicals and such). I just saw on MLB Trade Rumors that Mr. Sizemore is now having back surgery and will be out two to three months, at least. Thank you, Mr. Rizzo, for not listening to my advice.

Mark, Harper is going to make the team and go north as the starting right fielder. The only thing standing in his way is that extra year they get if they keep him in the minors until the end of April. If they keep him in the minors until late June and let him tear up AA/AAA he doesn't get super 2 status. But then there's Davey Johnson, the coaches and Rizzo's FO that know they need an impact left-handed bat. TODAY, RIGHT NOW. And it sure has heck isn't Adam LaRoche period. My money is on Morse at first with LaRoche on the bench. Mark, you are betting on the Lerner's overruling Johnson. They should have overruled Bowden when he brought up Detwiler early. They didn't. Why would you think they would overrule Johnson if his goal is the playoffs and beyond? More than any lead-off CF which is a bunch of hokem BS; as Werth, Ankiel, Brown, Bernadina, etc. can play the position and Desmond and Lombardozzi can certainly lead-off … they need an IMPACT LEFT HANDED bat. That is what the stats seem to say and Johnson is a mathematician. The sooner Harper becomes that bat the better for the Nationals now that they have eschewed signing Prince Fielder. While hoping that Espinosa is right in his belief that he will be a lot better from the left-side. Perhaps, given that the power is there? After that? They got nothin'.

Mark, you are betting on the Lerner's overruling Johnson. They should have overruled Bowden when he brought up Detwiler early. They didn't. Why would you think they would overrule Johnson if his goal is the playoffs and beyond? (a) Because the Lerners and Rizzo are smarter now than they were then. Look at how they handled Strasburg, even though he was clearly ready to pitch in the bigs on Opening Day and the Nats needed pitching on Opening Day.(b) No one cares when Detwiler reaches free agency. He was then and still is now a B list prospect at best.

I've read similar stories about Ted Williams and Barry Bonds knowing the opposing pitchers' tendencies better than most hitters. Though maybe not at 19. I want to see him playing on Opening Day. The sooner he gets used to Major League pitching, the better, and if we're going for the playoffs, I'd rather have him at his sharpest in September and not April or May of 2013. I assume the Nats didn't sign Jackson to a 1-year deal just so they'd win a few more games than next year. Harper will help put a lot of fans in the seats.–Tom

@Feel Wood – Detwiler a "B prospect?" Hardly. He was taken No. 6 overall and was viewed at the time as a potential No. 1 or 2 starter in the rotation. Bowden totally screwed the pooch on that one. There is no way Harper starts the season with the big club, and here is another good reason why nobody has mentioned: he has started slow for every team he has played for so far. Let him have his slow start at Syracuse and push his FA date back a year. Delaying him for a month means definitely having him another year. It only make sense.

for a guy like Harper if he reaches his full potential and you know he's going to walk when hitting FA do you trade him 1.5 years before that or let him play out the contract?If I'm not mistaken, that's called Gin Rummy General Management. You *don't* know he's going to walk. You can't possibly know that. Yeah, when he was 19 he wanted to play for the Yankees. Why wouldn't he? He can't do that for at least five years, a lot can happen in five years. Waaaaaaaay too long to worry about it.

Let Harper come north with the team and don't worry about free agency down the road. By that time the Nationals will know if they want to keep him or not and one year, more or less, won't make any difference.

Rabbit said… "Let Harper come north with the team and don't worry about free agency down the road. By that time the Nationals will know if they want to keep him or not and one year, more or less, won't make any difference."Face Palm!

1A. Thanks for the link.. I especially like this from Drew! I would add this to the collection..The team has started introducing players to the new campaign, asking them to design t-shirts that express their own particular Natitude. Drew Storen has already come up with his concept, featuring the phrase “Attention fans, the bottom of the 9th has been canceled.” The most popular player shirts will be used either as team giveaways or sold in the team store

btw, just picked up some more Phillies series tix (for October this time). You have to go the Take Back the Park route to order, 'cause they're not available on the "Insider" presale. As Nelson Muntz would say, ha-ha!

I just changed my mind. Bring him up on day one if he looks like he can handle it. Screw the future, we been saying that for 8 years.I don't get excited about much any more, I really don't, but guess what, I'm excited.